Information research is a strategic exploration, and involves determining what kind of information is needed to answer questions, solve problems.
(http://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/issues/infolit/Framework_ILHE.pdf)
General questions:
Can I find a book on my topic in Moore Library?
What databases should I use for additional information on my topic?
Suggested Topics:
1:10-2:40 Class:
Negative Effects of Social Media
2:50 - 4:20 Class:
Politics (immigration, global warming, gun control, etc.)
As you identify relevant keywords related to your topic, it may be helpful to find some background information to gain a good overview and better understanding of the context of your topic.
Conducting some brief background research can help you in finding additional terminology related to your topic, as well as specific events, dates, and names related to your topic.
Some online reference resources to try:
"...access to 600+ encyclopedias, handbooks, guides and dictionaries. These reference works cover a wide swath of topics including, science and medicine, etc.
Gale Virtual Reference Library
"A collection of encyclopedias and other reference sources which covers a variety of topics..."
Now that you have keywords, how are you going to use them to search for information on your topic? Here are some quick tips:
If you are not finding enough information, your topic may be too narrow.
Consider broadening it by exploring related issues, adding another element to the topic, or expanding the area covered. Use truncation and the boolean connector, OR, to expand your topic.
If you are finding too much information, your topic may be too broad.
Consider narrowing it by time period, geographic location, or population.
The videos and information below will help you expand or narrow your searches.
A. Truncation (shorten a word and use of a symbol such as an asterisk (*) or question mark (?)) to search for multiple endings of root words.
Example: politic* would search for politics, politician, politically, politicise
B. BOOLEAN Connectors: AND, OR, NOT are connecting operators that tells the computer to expand (OR), limit (AND), eliminate (NOT) concepts when searching.
Example: effects AND negative [both terms need to be in results; narrows topic]
Example: effects OR impact [either term or both terms can be in results; broadens topic]
C. Phrase search involves a concept that has more than one word and quotation marks around the terms defines the term.
Example: "social media"
